Army exec says soldiers thrilled peace is near

DAVAO CITY—Soldiers coming home alive to their families.

This, according to a ranking military officer, would be one of the biggest benefits of a peace agreement with communist guerrillas.

Col. Casiano Monilla, deputy division commander of the military’s 10th Infantry Division, said cessation of hostilities would mean soldiers being able to return to their families in one piece.

“There will be a significant drop in casualties among soldiers,” said Monilla. “There will also be a decrease in the number of families without fathers,” he said in a press conference here on Wednesday.

The planned release of all political detainees, however, would be an “emotional issue” for government soldiers, said Monilla.

“This is a very emotional issue for the armed forces especially since the cost of bringing them (suspected guerrillas) to justice is not just money, but also countless lives of our soldiers,” Monilla said.

Despite this, Monilla said he sees no dissent from soldiers because they, too, would be thrilled at the prospect of ending the nearly

50-year insurgency that has killed thousands of people, both combatant and noncombatant.

“We do not see any dissenting opinion because the soldiers on the ground will be the one who will benefit greatly from this,” said Monilla.

“They will be the first to express their gratitude,” he added.

He said the military trusts the wisdom of Duterte and would heed his orders.

“We will always follow the higher wisdom of people especially of the incoming president,” said Monilla.

“If he sees this as the solution to really achieve peace then the armed forces will always be toeing the line,” he said.

Aside from the benefit of reducing the number of casualties of armed conflict, Monilla said peace with communist guerrillas would redirect the resources and efforts of the security sector toward improving the country’s external defense.

“We know that we were ordered to conduct internal security operations because the police are too busy addressing domestic problems,” said Monilla.

“This is the reason why they cannot cover the insurgency. If there will be peace, the AFP can now perform its true mandate of securing our territorial integrity and protecting our people and nation,” he said.

Monilla added that this might finally fulfill the dream of the armed forces to improve national defense. Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao